Out of the Box

Seth Godin's description of Curiosity reminds me of the 1983 book "A whack on the side of the head : how to unlock your mind for innovation" by Roger von Oech. Godin is emphasising the intentional aspect of ones consciousness, and von Oech attempts to map out a process to facilitate curiosity. This could make one curious about the relational aspects of their approaches.

In 1959 Thomas Kuhn, studying the history of physics, developed an historical model for the nature of scientific revolutions. Kuhn described great shifts (such as Newton's gravitational model of 1687) in physics as paradigm shifts. Soon, paradigms became a "hot" terms for all manner of changes in thinking. Joel Barker picked up the phrase and applied it to business phenomena. Despite the fuzzy nature of the term paradigm, and its overuse, Godin and Web 2.0 represent a paradigmatic shift in ones thinking.

Godin would have marketing be offered to customers who are willing to "subscribe" to the items proffered. He would offer information only to the CURIOUS (as opposed to bludgeoning one with advertisements as standard, licensed, TV mainsteam TV functions). For our ProjectPlay training, this means that we need to have AT THE READY various approaches to library products. The curious customer should be able to "click" to Web 2.0 tools that provide the customer access to library services. Thus, as with Bloglines, a customer can opt for library feeds and annoucenments to fit the customer's own needs.

Therefore, the curious librarian, needs ProjectPlay language to relate to the Web 2.0 customer. As with language learning, the curious librarian can continue to peruse the changes in Web 2.0 and use ever changing tools to market (if requested) library products. As with language learning, this takes time; and a bit of time each day is probably the best way to learn languages. Then, the curious can talk to others who are curious; a conversation on which tools of Web 2.0 to utilize is possible.

Recently, C/net news noted that Yahoo, Google, and MySpace have formed a non-profit "Open Social Foundation;" gives the curious pause, doesn't it?

Finally, a thank you to the ProjectPlay gurus for guiding us into the new paradigm. I shall continue to peruse Web2.0 products and add RSS feeds for suggested sites such as "Shifted librarian," "librarian in black," and "Tame the web;" as suggested by the gurus. Then, at 3a.m., when worrying (curiously of course) about how to promote a new library collection or service; ProjectPlay tools might float into the head. Eureka! Stay tuned!